Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Whether it had something to do with the departure of Bad Seed Blixa Bargeld or just the purchase of a new suit, the period of creative uncertainty that undermined Nick Cave's last few recordings appears to be over. The Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus double disc set - hey, it worked for OutKast - finds our sulky savant again pondering the concepts of faith in a higher power and routine atrocity in a troubled world, with brief breaks to party with penguins and sip a frappucino. Throughout the quasi-religious program, ranging from moody introspection to thunderous praise songs, Cave is accompanied by the members of the London Community Gospel Choir. Arrangements are modelled after Elvis Presley's collaborations with the Sweet Inspirations, which works remarkably well, since Cave's vocal skills have progressed to the point where he no longer needs to camp things up. Righteous.